What Taylor didn’t expect was for Wyatt to drop her doll, whirl around to face her with enormous eyes, and ask with complete seriousness.
“Can I wear a pink dress?” Kylie snorted with laughter at her daughter’s immediate practical concern. “Wyatt!” Taylor was just being silly, but Wyatt had clearly moved past the concept of silliness and directly into planning mode. “I really like pink,” she continued earnestly. “But I also like purple.
Do bridesmaids get to pick their colors or do you pick for them? Taylor glanced at Kylie, who was clearly trying not to laugh and realized that Wyatt had taken her joking suggestion completely seriously.
Well, Taylor said, playing along. Usually the bride picks the colors, but I think pink would be beautiful. Wyatt’s face lit up like Christmas morning.
Really? Pink would be okay. Pink would be perfect. Taylor confirmed, and Wyatt immediately jumped to her feet.
But here’s where the situation took an unexpectedly adorable turn that would have Taylor and Kylie laughing for years to come. “Mom,” Wyattannounced to Kylie with the kind of urgent importance usually reserved for emergency bathroom breaks.
“I need to practice. Practice what, sweetheart?” Kylie asked, still grinning at her daughter’s seriousness about this imaginary bridesmaid role. “Being a bridesmaid?” Wyatt declared as if this should be obvious.
I don’t know how to be one yet. And with that announcement, Wyatt began demonstrating what she believed bridesmaid duties entailed based on her extensive research from watching her cousin’s wedding videos and the Disney movies that featured wedding scenes.
First, she positioned herself at one end of the living room and began walking in what she clearly believed was a very elegant bridesmaid appropriate manner.
This involved taking extremely tiny steps, holding her arms out slightly as if carrying an invisible bouquet, and nodding graciously at invisible wedding guests. “I’m walking very fancy,” Wyatt explained as she made her way across the room with intense concentration.
“Like this! Step, step, step, smile, step, step, step, smile.” Taylor and Kylie watched in fascination as Wyatt continued her practice procession, occasionally stopping to wave at imaginary guests or adjust her invisible flowers.
Very professional, Taylor said with mock seriousness, which made Wyatt beam with pride. But Wyatt wasn’t finished demonstrating her bridesmaid qualifications.
And I know how to throw flowers, Wyatt announced, beginning to pantomime scattering petals with the kind of theatrical flare that suggested she’d put considerable thought into proper flower throwing technique.
You have to be very careful not to throw them too hard because then they hit people in the face.
She demonstrated her gentle flower scattering method, taking imaginary petals from an imaginary basket and releasing them with delicate practice movements.
Where did you learn about flower throwing? Kylie asked, genuinely curious about her daughter’s wedding expertise. From cousin Sarah’s wedding, Wyatt replied matterof factly.
Remember the little girl before her threw the flowers too hard and one hit grandpa in the nose. Taylor burst out laughing at this matterof fact wedding analysis.
That’s very important knowledge for a bridesmaid to have. Encouraged by Taylor’s approval, Wyatt continued her demonstration.
And bridesmaids have to help fix the bride’s dress if it gets messed up,” she said, approaching Taylor with a very serious expression and beginning to fuss with an imaginary train.
“Like if it gets tangled or if there’s a bug on it.” “A bug,” Taylor repeated, trying not to laugh. “You never know,” Wyatt said solemnly. “Bugs like pretty things sometimes.”
But the performance that would have Taylor and Kylie completely dissolved in laughter was still coming. And the most important thing, Wyatt announced, moving to the center of the living room, is that bridesmaids have to know how to dance at the party after.
With that declaration, Wyatt began performing what she clearly believed was sophisticated wedding reception dancing. But Wyatt wasn’t finished demonstrating her bridesmaid qualifications.
And I know how to throw flowers, Wyatt announced, beginning to pantoime scattering petals with a kind of theatrical flare that suggested she put considerable thought into proper flower throwing technique.
You have to be very careful not to throw them too hard because then they hit people in the face.
Where did you learn about flower throwing? Kylie asked, genuinely curious about her daughter’s wedding expertise.
From cousin Sarah’s wedding, Wyatt replied matterof factly. Remember this involved a complex combination of spinning, swaying, and occasional dramatic arm movements that seem to be inspired by equal parts ballet, country line dancing, and interpretive movement.
This is the slow dance for when people are being romantic, Wyatt explained, swaying gently with her arms wrapped around an invisible partner.
And this is the fast dance for when everyone is happy, she continued, transitioning into enthusiastic spinning and jumping. Taylor was laughing so hard she had tears in her eyes.
And Kylie was clutching her stomach, trying to catch her breath between giggles. Wyatt, Kylie managed to say through her laughter, where did you learn all these dances? I made them up,” Wyatt replied proudly, continuing to demonstrate her choreography.
“But I also watch dancing on TV, and I practice with my dolls.” The image of Wyatt practicing wedding dances with her dolls sent Taylor into fresh peels of laughter. “Oh my gosh,” Taylor said, wiping tears from her eyes.
“Wyatt, you are the most prepared bridesmaid I’ve ever seen.” Wyatt stopped dancing and looked at Taylor with an expression of please surprise.
“Really? Really? Taylor confirmed. You know about flower throwing, dress f
